Monticello Live

Here are some of the personal items donated to the museum by Sadie Johnson.

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 5 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

This is an early 1900’s crank style telephone displayed in the kitchen area of the museum, When you would crank this telephone, it would get the attention of an operator who would ask who you were calling, then plug you into that line making a connection and alert the other party with a series of rings, also there would be up to 10 or more of your neighbors on this same “party” line all of whom could at any time pick up their phone receivers and listen in on your conversation.

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 5 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

This late 1800’s French mirror was bought by the home owners (Museum) from a plantation in Vidalia, Louisiana, and was shipped by mule and train to Monticello. This mirror hangs in the living room above the fireplace in the Museum.

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum.  We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 5 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

Happy Birthday Cliff!!

From the Gang at Gibson & Keith, PLLC

This is a Edison Amberola DX on display in the living room at the museum, It was produced in July of 1914 and retailed for $30 dollars. It was the first model that had a internal speaker instead of the “horn” and played a 4 minute plastic disc instead of the old fragile wax disc. This model was also the last of the Edison line to be belt driven and was said to be Edison’s “final achievement”.  He later came out with a more inexpensive worm gear driven model.

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 5 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

This painting of the old courthouse hangs in the music room of the museum and was painted by Dr. James Smith DDS. An African-American, who was originally from, Chicago but lost everything to the great Chicago fire.

Dr. Smith then got a job with the government and was made postmaster in Monticello, where he also taught art classes to the wealthy. After he saved enough money, he moved back to Chicago and married his sweetheart.

The couple then moved back to Arkansas, settling in Little Rock, where Smith was a well known dentist, The couple had four children,including a daughter who was musically inclined and became the first African-American female composer to have her symphony played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the late 1890’s.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 5 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

This “fiddle” This” Fiddle” was willed to the Ryburn Family in the 1870’s by an unknown benefactor, and is on display in the music room of the museum. 

What makes this violin interesting, and also goes to show the ingenuity of our forefathers, is on the inside of the violin are rattle snake rattlers, It was said that not only did the rattlers produce a soothing vibrato tone to the violin, it also kept the mice from nesting in it.

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum,  We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 5 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership.  Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

Sara West, daughter of Leslie Lowery, donated her hair to “Locks for Love”.

Sara will be 8 years old, soon, and wanted very much to help a child who has lost his or her hair during a long term illness.

Sara’s family and friends are all proud of her.

Karleigh Hoskins cut off 12 inches of her hair to Donate it to Locks of Love.

She wanted to help some little child who cannot grow hair..

She is the daughter of Roger “Bubba” and Kristine Hoskins.

Karleigh is 5 years old and will be in 1st grade this yearr at Drew Central.

Hot weather can present a danger to humans, but outdoor pets, particularly dogs, are also at risk, according to the Humane Society.

We all should remember our pets during hot weather.

Even healthy dogs can over-heat or become dehydrated. (more…)

On May 27, 2011, Monticello lawyer C. C. “Cliff” Gibson, III, was appointed by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe as a Special Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding a case in which Supreme Court Justice Don Corbin recused.

This is Gibson’s fourth time to serve as a Special Justice on the Supreme Court. He is a senior partner in the Gibson & Keith law firm in Monticello, and also serves as County Attorney for Drew County. Gibson has also been active in state and local community affairs by serving over 10 years on the governing board of Legal Services of Arkansas, and as a director and president of both the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce and the Monticello Economic Development Commission.

A past recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the City of Monticello, Gibson is also a 32nd degree Mason and has twice served as Master of Eureka Lodge No. 40 in Monticello. He and his wife Lisa are members of the First United Methodist Church in Monticello, and their children are Joy O’Neil Sills and C.C. “Chad” Gibson, IV.

Several piano students of Joyce Pevey participated in a recital Sunday afternoon at Mt. Pleasant “Campground” United Methodist Church.

Front Row: Blake Middlebrooks, Jessica Beaty, Meredith Maynard, Hannah McAlpine, Kaia Young, Christine Bostian. Back Row: Tina Bostian, James Cathey, Joyce Pevey, Arnold Tullos. Not pictured, but participated in recital are: Anna Grace Bailey, Anna Groves and Anna Lewis. Many parents, family and friends of the students were also in attendance.

What if I told you that someone buried in Oakland Cemetary had risen from the grave? What if I told you that their burial place was broken open and no body could be found? What would be your first impulse?

“But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however got up and ran to the tomb.” Luke 24.11,12a (NIV). 

Some would probably think it was crazy. Some would consider it mere nonsense. But some, like Peter, would run to the tomb to see for themselves. It stands to reason that those who had the most to lose or gain would be the first to examine the site. Everyone of any importance knew where Jesus had been buried. I wonder how many people visited there over the first few days. Perhaps a hundred? Maybe a thousand? Is it reasonable to believe that it was a large number?

If a large number of people examined that grave and found it to be empty, wouldn’t that help to explain why so many people converted to following Jesus on the day of Pentecost? That might also explain why “The Way” spread so rapidly in such a short time. It could also help us understand why such a story would survive such great persecution, span so many borders and boundaries, and continue to shape history as radically now as it did 2000 years ago.

“Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.” Luke 24.12b

Peter eventually came to a conclusion about what he’d seen and his life, and the world, changed forever.

Have you come to a conclusion? What will it change?

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  Romans 10:9

by Rob Leonard, Pauline Baptist Church, MBSF.

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday.

Just thinking about the ‘good ole days’ and all the fun we use to have. Luv ya

‘Burney’

Family foster care is a program designed to provide a substitute family life experience. The purpose is to provide a healthy home and community experience for the child while conditions which caused the placement away from the birth/legal family are being resolved.

Foster care is intended to be temporary. Children are placed in foster homes because they have been removed from their own families due to abuse, neglect or other family problems that endanger their safety. The children may range from infancy to 18 years. The Children may belong to any ethnicity or race as well as belong to a sibling group of brothers and sisters that need to be placed together.

Click Here For More information about Foster Care in Drew County.

Drew County Division of Children & Family Services :
444 Hwy 425 North
Monticello, AR  71655
Phone:  870-367-6835

43 Veterans Attending Memorial Service

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

(more…)

A local National Day of Prayer Observance was held Thursday, around noon, on the front lawn of the Drew County Courthouse.

Around 70 people attended the event, as a series of prayers were lifted, asking God for his guidance over our country, state, and local leaders, schools, national security, military, law enforcement, justice system, churches, and people enduring hardships.

Tommy Gray has announced that he will seek re-election to another term as District 5 Justice of the Peace.

A native of south Arkansas and a resident of Drew County for more than 33 years, Gray is president and manager of Monticello Tire and Service, Inc. Goodyear. He is a member of Pauline Baptist Church and the Monticello Lions Club, a 32nd Degree Mason, past master of Eureka Lodge #30, a member of the Eastern Star, a Shriner in the Sahara Temple, and a board member of the Drew County Historical Museum and the Drew County Historical Society.

Gray and his wife, LaWanda, have four children: Tess Kilcrease and Ted Gray of Monticello, Jackie Jarrett of Dumas and Debbie Fraser of Gould.

In seeking reelection, Gray states that he will work with and for all the citizens of Drew County. “I pledge to continue work and support for our hospital, library, schools and economic development. I will continue to work for new industry and will support the industry and growth of what we now have.

“I care about Drew County and all of its people. I take pride in my service to District 5. Thank you for the trust and support you have placed in me,” he said.

Larry Smith, Jr..has announced his candidacy for the position of Drew County Sheriff and Collector. During my ten years in law enforcement I have graduated from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in Camden, and have been certified in numerous law enforcement classes, such as postal inspection, special street crime operations, crime scene investigations, methamphetamine identification and safety, basic Spanish, and domestic violence. I also graduated from SSA K-9 Academy with several more certifications in law enforcement.

I am employed as a police officer by the City of Monticello. Previously, I was a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy for approximately seven years.

I am the son of the late Larry Smith of Monticello, who was my biggest mentor and friend. I am the father of four children; Lawton, Kelby, Karter, and Jalie.

I believe in strong family morals and will pledge to do the best possible job to uphold those values.

If elected, I will do my best to be fair and just, and also to have an open door policy for all Drew County citizens. I am asking you, the citizens of Drew County, to elect me Sheriff and Collector of Drew County, because I have the experience, heart, and leadership to make this a better community.

Tom Martin, Chipper Jones, Michael Murphy, Adam LaRoche, Jeremy Payne, Mitchell Murphy, Ryan Langerhans, Andrew Brannon, Willie Robertson, Matt Duff, and Tyler Chambers

CashboX, a local southern rock band, recently got the opportunity to perform for some “big time” stars. CashboX is made up of singer Andrew Brannon, from Monticello, guitarist Tyler Chambers, from Monticello, drummer Michael Murphy from Dermott, and Bassist Jeremy Payne from Lake Village. The band recently recorded the theme songs for the Duckmen 13: Fear the Beard, already out on DVD, and the Buck Commander 3: “The Bigs,” due out next year. The Duck Commander, a reality show about the Robertson family, airs weekly on The Outdoor Channel.

Michael Murphy, Tyler Chambers, Jason Aldean, Jeremy Payne, and Andrew Brannon.

 Because of CashboX’s success with the theme songs, Willie Robertson, star of the Buck Commander DVD series and Duck Commander DVD series and Duck Commander reality show series, sent the band and their families to the ranch of Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche in Fort Scott, Kansas, where they played a concert for the Buck Commanders themselves. The Buck Commanders present were: Chipper Jones,3rd base for the Atlanta Braves; Adam LaRoche, 1st base for the Atlanta Braves; Matt Duff, a former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher; Tom Martin, a former New York Mets pitcher; Ryan Langerhans, outfielder for Seattle Mariners; and Willie Robertson. (more…)

This photo, taken of Lake Monticello, by Paul Francis, was the $100 prize winner for the month of September, in the monthly contest on MonticelloLive for the best news tip or photo submitted.

Call in your news tips to 367-0000, and e-mail your photo submissions to joe@MonticelloLive.com,

When Dr. Judy Bynum drove up to Drew Central High School at 6:15 Wednesday morning, it was foggy and dark. In the twilight, she could see a dark creature turning in circles in the front of the school. It was solid black and small, but not as small as a squirrel, with a bushy tail. On its head was a yogurt cup, stuck tightly. (more…)

Steel framed building with 35′ x 50′ bays, a total of 50,088 square feet under a standing seam metal roof system. A glass storefront has been installed to accommodate an interior office, or provide an attractive entry.

Decorative split-faced block has been utilized on the front and street sides of the building. Footing and foundations have been built; the floor remains to be poured thereby allowing the owner to establish specifications.

For more information contact the Monticello Economic Development Commission, P.O. Box 1890, Monticello, AR 71657 or see our web site at http://monticelloedc.org/

One Monticello resident is dead, and two others are injured after a one-vehicle accident in Drew County yesterday.

According to a report by the Arkansas State Police the accident occurred at 12:48 p.m. on Midway Route in Drew County. The report states that a 1999 Mercury Sable driven by Don Simpson, age 18, of Monticello was traveling north on Midway Route at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control after over-compensating for a curve, and the vehicle left the roadway and overturned multiple times. All three passengers were then ejected from the vehicle.

Also injured in the accident were Steven Piper, age 34 and Austin Piper, age 4, both of Monticello. According to the State Police report Simpson was pronounced dead at the scene by a Drew County coroner. The other passengers were transported to Drew Memorial Hospital and Austin Piper was later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. The report states that no seatbelts or child restraints were in use by any of the occupants. According to officials at the Arkansas State Police, toxicology tests results are pending.